Community Action Fareham

Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA)

ISA register to protect children and vulnerable adults.

The Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) has been set-up following government review of failures to protect children. It will become operational in late 2008 and aims to register all people, including volunteers and their management committee members, who work with children and vulnerable adults (CVA). 11 million will be registered during their first 5 years. This is for “Regulated” activities meaning those who work directly with CVA. This can be frequently – ie more than one per month or intensively over 3 times in 30 days or overnight. Additionally a category of “Controlled” employment includes those who are support staff in places where work is done with CVA. The requirement is for people working with CVA to register themselves and for employers, including voluntary groups, to check their registration status before work begins. It will be an offence not to check subject to up to 5 years imprisonment.

ISA status will indicate that they are registered and so “not barred”. Subsequent convictions will be considered by ISA and, if that means they are then barred, that decision will be notified to the employers or groups engaging them. Also, organisations will have a duty to refer concerns to ISA.

The application process will be via new CRB disclosure forms. ISA will do simple cases within an additional 7 days. Simple cases account for the 90% where there are no convictions or other information. There will be an additional fee for paid workers but, as with CRBs, it will be free for volunteers.

Further information, including a 2 page facts sheet, is available from www. farehamaction.org.uk/isabriefing.htm and the ISA website provides the latest official information www. isa-gov.org.uk

2 Page Briefing sheet -      Click here

280 words as above Text for Newsletter about ISA -   Click here

Links

ISA - www.isa-gov.org.uk

CRB - www.crb.gov.uk

Voluntary organisations in Hampshire can obtain CRB disclosures through the CVS umbrella bodies.  There is an administration charge for the service of £7.50  see www.crbh.org.uk

Training in related subjects (Child Protection, CAF Awareness, Good Recruitment practice) etc is available through the CVS Training network.  Ask your local CVS  www.hampshireiwcvs.org.uk